Maya Rigler, 13, is a creative, artistic girl who loves babysitting, traveling and meeting famous people. When she was just 2-years-old, Maya was already a cancer survivor, having fought Wilms’ tumor. As she grew up, her family stayed involved in the fight against childhood cancer, holding lemonade stands each June to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. Then, when Maya was 10, she was diagnosed with an unrelated cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma. The tumor was on her pancreas and could not be safely removed. She was treated with chemotherapy that concluded in December 2015 and she is currently in remission.

Throughout it all, Maya has fought childhood cancer with positivity and courage and shares her story to try and inspire others. Maya’s dream is to be a philanthropist in the future, and she’s made amazing strides towards that goal by helping Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation through “virtual” lemonade stands on ALSF’s website and encouraging others to contribute to her stand. With the help of her family – parents Stacy and Peter, and her brothers Nathan and Eli – she got her community involved. 

Inspired by Maya’s generosity, passion and story, supporters quickly raised thousands of dollars for ALSF. Maya continued to raise her lofty goal and has now exceeded $400,000 total raised! Her unbridled optimism and commitment to helping find a cure convinced people across the country to join the fight against childhood cancer. Her stupendous group of supporters have held stands in nearly all 50 states! She’s also spoken on behalf of ALSF and received the 2016 Stand Host of the Year Award at The Lemon Ball.

Maya wants others to know that no matter what, you can make a meaningful difference by giving back. She knows that eventually, with enough research funding, they can make sure no other child has to go through the same fight she did.

Hero Quote: “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.” – Maya Rigler

Information provided by Stacy Rigler, Maya’s mother
Updated May 2017